High-potential arcing device



April 16, 1929. WAHLBERG 1,709,697

HIGH POTENTIAL ARCING DEVICE Filed' Sept. 25. 1922 4 l6 l5 l6 /5 /7 L- 7 7 WITNESSES: LT 6 INVENTOR (/4 c M/ci/4.Ml$/bf9.

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ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1929. V l

UNITED, STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

NILS A. WAIILBERG, OF \VILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO. WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPAJNY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

HIGH-POTENTIAL ARCING- DEVICE,

7 Application filed September 23, 1922. Serial No. 590,153.

sulator and that shall be extremely light in weight.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arcing device for high-potential insulators that shall greatly facilitate its installation and that shall be effective in its operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arcing-ring device that shall be eilective in connection with circuits of higher voltages than devices of similar character heretofore used'or, in other words, an arcing-ring device by the use of which the said circuits of higher voltages may be more effectively employed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a high-potential arcing device that shall be simple anddurable in construction and economical to manufacture.

In the development of hi gh-potential transmission lines, each appreciable advance in the value of the voltage at which it is clesired to operate incurs new problems of con struction and design. One of the principal diiiiculties attaching to the increase in voltage of transmission lines is to overcome the corona effect. Also, the direction and distribution of the electrostatic field are factors of great importance in the attainment of a highly ef. fective insulator. Arcing ring members,

similar to my invention, have heretofore been,

suggested but, to the best of my knowledge, none of them has been similarly adapted for the increased voltages of later developments in the art.

Arcing-ring members, as initially suggested, Were employed merely as means for direct-- ing the flash-over are, as is attested'by the small cross-sections of the rings. Also, the arms for the support of the rings had, in certain structures, sharp edges and ends overlapping the perimeters of the rings in such manner as to increase the corona effect, and to cause flash-over or breakdown at voltages below that which they might otherwise with stand. 7

g In practicing my invention, I provide an arcing-ring structure, preferably constructed of relatively light sheet metal and tubular members, in which all sharp edges and corners are so shielded by relatively broad expanses or areas of conducting material as to widely distribute the electrostatic stresses, to reduce the corona effect and, at the same time, to so direct the flash-over are as to protect the insulator from damage.

Figure lot the accompanying drawing is a broken plan view of an arcing-ring device constructed in accordance with my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a. side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the device shown in Fig. 1, with the insulator and'other parts indicated in broken lines.

The device comprises, in general, a main arcing or field-distributing ring member 2, a relatively small supporting ring member 3 therefor, arms 4 for connecting the rings 2 and 3, a supporting member. 5 connected between the ring 3 and an insulator 6, and a clamp 7 for supporting a high-potential conductor 8. The insulator 6 is preferably of a usual suspenison type, the particular construction of which is not germane to this invention, except in so far as the relative sizes and general relation of parts are concerned.

The main ring member 2 is preferably constructed, of relatively thin sheet metal, to be otinverted substantially U-shape in cross section, as shown, inwhich the trough 9 of the U is of relatively great radius and the outer leg 10 of the U is longer than the innerleg 11. This construction provides a relatively great conducting surface area, 7

The supporting member 5 has an end portion 12 for attachment to the insulator 6, by a bolt 14:, and depending arm portions 15 having laterally projecting portions .16 for attach,- ment to the smaller ring 3, by bolts 17. The ring 3 is preferably ofsubstantially flat-Washor shape having itsinner edges suificiently spaced from the longitudinal axis of the insulator to admit the clamp 7 The latter is secured to the arm portions 15 of the member 5 by a bolt 18. p

The arms 4, preferably of arcuate sha e substantially tl'iroughout the length thereof and constructed of relatively thin sheet-metal tubing, are provided with flattened ends 19 and 20 for attachment to the rings 2 and 3, respectively. The ends 19 are attached, by

bolts 21, to lugs 22 secured to the inner surface of the ring 2, and the ends; are at The relatached, by bolts 23, to the 'ing 0, t area of the ring; 2 serves 'lVtly great surface A to widely distribute the electrostatic field and to thus reduce the tendency to form corona. ."he ends 19 ot the arms 4t, being inside the ring 2, do not attract or serve to concentrate the electrostatic held, at these pointe. The arms 4-, bcin Well-rounded. and arcuato enhetantially throughout the lengths thereof, present no eharp bonds, edges or corners to the held. The general comitruction throws of the main broad rounded snrtacce up and away from the clamp 'i', and the parts adjacent thereto, so that the t ndenoy to form corona is very materially reduced The relat vely thin shoe metal employed permits; the increaoed surface areas to be attained *ithont nndne increase in the 'WQl ht oi? the structure. Further, on arcing (le prmxidcd that is simple and durable in construction, oconon'iical in mannincture an-il eilcctivc in its operation.

ll h lc l have SllOWil and desicribed a particular form of my invention, changeo may he etlected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, ar set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as; my invent on:

1. The combination With a high-potential ineulator, of an arcing device lllGl'ul comprising; a relatively lare'e SllGll3-1(lOtll arcing); ring of in Vorned snlisitantially U-shapc in crosasection and having the outer leg of the U longer than the inner leg th eof, a metal member pivotally connected at its upper end to th insulator and having a phnrality oft depending; arms, said arms having laterallyl'ilbfl'OCtlllg' portions, a relatively small supporting ring (it substantially flat-washer ehape attached to said laterally-proieating portions, and a plurality of arcuate tubnh'nmembers having itlattencd, ends; connected. to said. longer of the arcing ring; and to said euppoi inn ring.

An arcing device comprising a ring oi sheet metal of substantially lei-shape in cross section, in which the legs: of the l are at least as tar apart as the dian'ieter ot the closed end thereof and extend in the general direction of the axis; of the ring.

3. An arcing device comprising a ring of sheet metal of substantially ill-shape in or as section, in which the legs of the U lie substantially parallel to the axis of the ring and are at least as far apart as the diameter ol' the cioscd 0nd of the U, and a structure adjacent to the center of the ring embodying a portion for moiu'iting the dcvi 'e and a portion extending snhetantially radially from Said mounting; portion to said ring and con nected to the latte ata position between said legs.

l. An arcin device comprising a ring of sheet metal. oili enbetantially U-shape in cro -ti section, in which the legs of the U are at learnt as liar apart as the diameter of" the cloeed end thereof, 5 nd a central structure embody Jng longitudinally oil: it portions for mounting the device and supporting the ring, re-

spectively, said eupportin gportion providing a space for the reception of a portion of a conductor clamp, and a portion extenoing sailistantially radially from said sui'iportine portion opposite an interniediato portion ot said clamp to said ring at a position between said legs.

5. An arcing device eoinpris'm; an arcreceiing ring for disposition around the is of an inrailatm', and a central structure embodying a. central portion for mounting the dov'ce, laterally-Spaced, longitudinally- OXtOHtllllQ portions closely associated with said central mounting portion for receiving a portion of a clamp lhcrvbetween, and portions CXiiGlltllllg substantially radially t'rmn said lonn itndiimlly-ezcteiuling portion opposite an intermediate portion 011. said clamp to said ring for supporting the latter.

6. The combination with a high-potential insulator, of an arcing device therefor comprioing a sheet-metal arcing; ring of inverted substantially lJ-ehape in cross section and having one leg of the U longer than the other, a metal member eonnecte l at its upper end to the insulator and including a depending portion. having a laterally-projnoting portion, a relatively Slllflll siiipporting ring attached to said laterally-projectingg; portion, and, a plurality of members convict-toil between said longer leg and said Supporting ring. it

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this th day of August, 1922.

NILS A. lVAHLBERG. 

